The first category is "Restricted Free Agents who received Qualifying Offers from their Old Clubs and are subject to the First Refusal/Compensation system of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement". The only Patriot is BenJarvus Green-Ellis; the Pats would be compensated with a 2nd round draft pick.

The second category is "Players with three or more accrued seasons who have been designated as Franchise players"; Logan Mankins is one of four NFL players in this category. Old clubs have right of first refusal and also get compensated with two first round draft picks.

Third is "Transition Players"; there are none in the whole league. After that is "Players with four or more accrued seasons who negotiated Rights of First Refusal with their Old Clubs"; the Chiefs WR Kevin Curtis is the only NFL player in this category.

The final section is "Players with fewer than four accrued seasons who received no Qualifying Offer or no minimum tender from their Old Club". The 38 players in this category are mostly no-names such as former Patriot Titus Adams.

I'll say it first - sign Ochocinco.
The more I think of it, the more I think this can work.
BB and Chad have a lot of love and respect for each other and Ocho fills a need.

The Pats offense is predicated on smart reads by the receiver and good route running, Ocho knows what a defense is trying to do against him and he is still an excellent route runner who is also not afraid to go over the middle for the reception, unlike Moss.
So long as the price is right, I think this is a nobrainer move that can take our offense over the top (although it was already the #1 offense in the NFL!!)

I'll say it first - sign Ochocinco.
The more I think of it, the more I think this can work.
BB and Chad have a lot of love and respect for each other and Ocho fills a need.

The Pats offense is predicated on smart reads by the receiver and good route running, Ocho knows what a defense is trying to do against him and he is still an excellent route runner who is also not afraid to go over the middle for the reception, unlike Moss.
So long as the price is right, I think this is a nobrainer move that can take our offense over the top (although it was already the #1 offense in the NFL!!)

I can't see Chad lasting more than 24 hours once teams are officially allowed to cut players. I think they've moved on.

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Maybe, maybe not. In past season I would think they would hold on to him, to use as leverage in rookie contract negotiations with AJ Green. But with the new CBA there's not as much for Green and his agent to negotiate.

The other thing to consider is that they can hold on to him until final cuts if they want to; either for insurance, or in the hopes that some team will offer something to them in a trade.

He's due $6 million this year, which is high but not a completely absurd amount. And it's not as if Cincinnati can cut him to pocket the difference the way they could in past years; with teams having to spend 99% it's a case of pay him, or pay somebody else.

Obviously it would make sense for the Bengals to cut or trade him and plan for the future, but Mike Brown and his brother have never been accused of being the sharpest football minds in the league.

I'll say it first - sign Ochocinco.
The more I think of it, the more I think this can work.
BB and Chad have a lot of love and respect for each other and Ocho fills a need.

The Pats offense is predicated on smart reads by the receiver and good route running, Ocho knows what a defense is trying to do against him and he is still an excellent route runner who is also not afraid to go over the middle for the reception, unlike Moss.
So long as the price is right, I think this is a nobrainer move that can take our offense over the top (although it was already the #1 offense in the NFL!!)